Bandh diary of disruption

South City Mall without the crowd of shoppers during the bandh. (Sanat Kr Sinha)

An almost-full Writers’ department
on Thursday. (Amit Datta)

The chief minister said there were “no major disruptions” during the Left, BJP and SUCI-supported bandh on Thursday. “Strength-inei (They do not have the strength)” was how Mamata Banerjee dismissed the Opposition’s ability to enforce a bandh. There were, however, a handful of incidents in the city and its outskirts that resulted in the arrest of 666 people, 44 of them from the heart of the city. A tour through the troubled spots.

Shyambazar: SUCI supporters tried to block the five-point crossing around 11am. Fourteen of them were arrested.

Hazra: Five BJP supporters were arrested when they tried to block the Hazra crossing on 12.20pm.

Esplanade: At 2.40pm, 25 CPI(ML) supporters were arrested for trying to block the KC Das crossing.

Barasat: Around 11am, some BJP supporters squatting on Jessore Road damaged a state bus by throwing stones at it. They fled before police reached the spot.

Madhyamgram: CPM supporters damaged a state bus near Sisir Kunja around 9am. They then clashed with Trinamul supporters trying to stop them. Another group of bandh supporters later attacked the bus for a second time. Two persons were detained.

Airport: Around 9.45am, taxis were stopped at airport gate number two and a half. Bandh supporters damaged one vehicle.

Baguiati: About 50 BJP supporters took out a procession on VIP Road and tried to block the airport artery. Forty-one people were arrested when they tried to burn the effigy of the Prime Minister.

Bangur Avenue: BJP and Trinamul supporters clashed when the former tried to stop buses from plying from a depot. Two BJP supporters were arrested.

Howrah station: About 40 BJP supporters gathered in front of a hotel around 7.45am and tried to close the eateries on the stretch. Trinamul supporters fought with them. Police had to lathicharge to disperse the mob.

Ramrajatala: SUCI supporters tried to block the train tracks at Ramrajatala station around 8am. GRP men removed the blockade.

Barrackpore: CPM workers started squatting on rail tracks around 9.30am. They were dispersed by RPF within half an hour.